PP v Muhammad Nur Sallehin: Illegally Importing Controlled Drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act
In [2017] SGHC 107, the High Court of Singapore heard the case of Public Prosecutor v Muhammad Nur Sallehin Bin Kamaruzaman, where the accused was charged with illegally importing methamphetamine under the Misuse of Drugs Act. After a twelve-day trial, the court found the accused guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment and 15 strokes of the cane. The accused appealed against the sentence, arguing it was manifestly excessive.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court of the Republic of Singapore1.2 Outcome
Accused was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment and 15 strokes of the cane.
1.3 Case Type
Criminal
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Muhammad Nur Sallehin was convicted of illegally importing methamphetamine. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and 15 strokes of the cane.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecutor | Plaintiff | Government Agency | Judgment for Plaintiff | Won | David Khoo of Attorney-General’s Chambers Quek Jing Feng of Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Muhammad Nur Sallehin bin Kamaruzaman | Accused | Individual | Appeal against sentence | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Kan Ting Chiu | Senior Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| David Khoo | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Quek Jing Feng | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Suresh s/o Damodara | Damodara Hazra LLP |
| Sankar s/o Kailasa Thevar Saminathan | Sterling Law Corporation |
4. Facts
- The Accused, Muhammad Nur Sallehin Bin Kamaruzaman, was charged with importing a Class 'A' controlled drug.
- The Accused was with Nur Dianey Mohamed Salim when importing the drugs.
- The drug was methamphetamine, weighing 378.92 grams.
- The Accused claimed trial but was found guilty after a twelve-day trial.
- The Prosecution confirmed the Accused was a courier and had rendered substantive assistance to the Central Narcotics Bureau.
- The Prosecution did not seek the death penalty.
5. Formal Citations
- Public Prosecutor v Muhammad Nur Sallehin bin Kamaruzaman, Criminal Case No 62 of 2015, [2017] SGHC 107
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Accused committed the offence of importing drugs at Woodlands Checkpoint | |
| Accused arrested | |
| Trial began | |
| Trial continued | |
| Sentence imposed on the Accused | |
| Accused filed a Notice of Appeal | |
| Judgment issued |
7. Legal Issues
- Illegally importing controlled drugs
- Outcome: The court found the accused guilty of illegally importing controlled drugs.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Not specified
9. Cause of Actions
- Illegally importing controlled drugs
10. Practice Areas
- Criminal Litigation
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cited cases | |||||
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Misuse of Drugs Act | Singapore |
| Penal Code | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Methamphetamine
- Misuse of Drugs Act
- Importing controlled drugs
- Courier
- Life imprisonment
- Caning
15.2 Keywords
- Drug Importation
- Methamphetamine
- Singapore High Court
- Criminal Law
- Misuse of Drugs Act
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Misuse of Drugs Act | 95 |
| Criminal Law | 90 |
| Drug Importation | 80 |
| Sentencing | 60 |
| Penal Code | 50 |
| Appeal | 40 |
16. Subjects
- Criminal Law
- Drug Offences